In fact, a domain name is like an address forwarding service. When people type in the address of the website they want to visit, it points to the IP address that contains your website. An IP address is a series of numbers, such as 123.23.234.45. This IP address points to the location on the server that contains your website files.
The reason we use domain names instead of IP addresses is that names are easier to remember than a long string of numbers.
Simply put, your domain name points to your IP address, which in turn points to your website. This way, users from all over the world can easily access your website by simply typing your domain name into their web browser.
There are different types of web hosting to choose from, such as shared hosting, VPS hosting , WordPress hosting , eCommerce hosting , dedicated server , blog hosting , and reseller hosting . When you are just starting out, we recommend that you choose shared hosting or WordPress hosting because they are the ideal options for most website owners and bloggers in terms of affordability and needs.
You can learn more about the different types of web hosting here .
If you want to build a WordPress site , we recommend choosing a WordPress hosting service . In most cases, both shared and WordPress hosting cost about the same. The only major difference is that WordPress hosting comes pre-installed with WordPress on your hosting account. This offers a great convenience so that you don’t have to manually install WordPress on your web hosting account.
We will show you how to purchase a domain name new zealand business email list and web hosting, step by step.
How to buy a domain name and web hosting
One of the first things you will need to do to create a website or blog is to purchase a domain name and web hosting.
When you want to create a new website, the combined cost of domain and hosting can seem quite high.
That’s why we’ve partnered with Bluehost to offer our users a free domain name, free SSL, and over 70% off WordPress hosting. That’s an amazing deal to get started with.
Click here to claim this exclusive Bluehost offer”
Bluehost is one of the largest web hosting providers in the world. They have been involved in the WordPress community since 2005 and are an officially recommended hosting provider by WordPress.org.
Let's take a step-by-step guide on how to purchase web hosting along with a domain name.
To start your WordPress blog, head over to the Bluehost website and click the Start Now button .
create a website on bluehost
On the next page, you'll be asked to choose a plan. Since you're just starting out, you can choose the basic plan which also includes a free domain and SSL. You can always upgrade your account as your site grows.
select a bluehost plan to start a website
In this step, you register a domain name for free. Bluehost will cover the cost of registering your domain name.
bluehost get free domain
You will now be asked to enter your account information. To make registration easier, you can log in with Google in just a few clicks.
bluehost account creation
After entering your details, scroll down the page until you find the package information box. You can select the basic plan for 12 months, 24 months, or 36 months. You can also see that some add-ons are pre-selected, which increases the total price. You can uncheck these add-ons because you won't need them right away. You can always add them later, if you need them.
Note: If you choose the 36-month plan, you will get the best value for your money.
bluehost package information
Once you've set up your plan, scroll down the page to enter your payment details. You'll need to agree to their terms of service and then click Submit.
That's it!
You have successfully subscribed to a hosting plan. You will be prompted to create a password for your account. You will then receive an email with information on how to log into your web hosting control panel (cPanel), where you can manage everything from your hosting files to email and support.
If you want to go for another web host, we recommend Hostinger and SiteGround . Both are reliable and trustworthy web hosts with affordable pricing plans.
If you want a more detailed, step-by-step guide on creating an online presence, you can check out our following articles:
How to create a website
How to create a blog
How to launch an online store